8811 Extender Help

[DieCommie420]

I am having trouble figuring out what to do...

All i want is to have the device keys (DVD, TV, CD, etc) switch my AMp/Reciever to the correct device.

I was told i need an extender to do this and loaded on i got from yahoo group.

I assume i need to set up a macro to do what i want.....The device buttons already have macros however.

For example the DVD button macro is this
P_DVD;M_DVD;C_DVD;T_DVD;0_DVD

I cannot seem to find any instructions that explain what these entries do....

any help would be appreciated Thx!

[johnsfine]

The extender's readme file does explain what the default macros do.

You need to edit the macro and add the command(s) necessary to switch the receiver.

If your receiver has discrete input selection, the cleanest method is to select a single shifted or phantom key for input selection and in each device mode create a KeyMove to send the receiver command for input associated with that device. Then add that phantom keycode to each device's macro.

[DieCommie420]

Ok so i found that the P means PiP, the M means Menu, C means channel, T means transport, and 0 means other.... But i dont understand what all this does when i hit DVD....

What is discrete input selection?
What is a single shifted key or phantom key?

I only got the JP1 cable yesterday, and the only thing i want to do with it is assign the device keys to the reciever...

THx for the help

[johnsfine]

Ok so i found that the P means PiP, the M means Menu, C means channel, T means transport, and 0 means other.... But i dont understand what all this does when i hit DVD....

The extender divides the keys up into several sets. Instead of having a single "current device mode" the extender maintains a seperate "current device mode" for each set of keys. So when I'm watching a tape during the commercials of a broadcast program I can have my remote's transport keys operate the VCR, while it's PIP keys operate the TV and its channel keys operate the cable tuner.

That (default) macro tells the remote that all those sets of keys should be set to DVD mode. That is similar to what the DVD key would have done if you had no extender. You might choose to set the PIP keys to TV in you DVD macro if you use the DVD with the TV and the DVD has no functions you'd like on PIP keys.

What is discrete input selection?

Most device with multiple inputs have a "next input" function, which isn't very practical in a macro because the macro can't know what the previous state was. A "discrete" input select is a command to the device to select a specific input regardless of which input was selected before.

What is a single shifted key or phantom key?

By "single" I meant that I suggested choosing the same key in each device mode.

In IR.EXE you can select a "shifted" key as the bound key of a KeyMove or as a step in a macro, by simply selecting the "shifted" option in the appropriate dialog. On the remote itself you can use a shifted key by doing a short press of the Set key before pressing the key you want shifted.

Since the remote has a limited number of keys, the point of shifted keys is to let you have more functions than keys. For convenience you would assign shifted keys for functions that you either rarely use at all or normally use only in macros.

Phantom keys are keys that can't be pressed on the keyboard at all. They are for functions that are never used from the Keyboard and only used inside macros. But in most cases it is better to use shifted keys for those, because even if normal use would never require using that function outside a macro, you still may need to test that function while debugging the macro.

I only got the JP1 cable yesterday, and the only thing i want to do with it is assign the device keys to the reciever...

It really isn't as hard as all this makes it sound. If you're still confused, tell us which receiver you have (including what setup code you use for that receiver) so we can make the instructions less abstract.

[DieCommie420]

Thx for all the help! I am learning alot.

The rcvr/amp i am using is sony code 1058
TV code 0000
DVD code 0539
CD code 0000
VCR code 0032

I tried a macro by putting in this sequence after the default DVD macro Rcvr/amp;2;DVD (2 happens to be the button that puts my rcvr in DVD mode) It seemed to work, but the LED on the remote started flickering and i couldnt do anything else.... I could use some more pointers if you got them!

Thx again

[johnsfine]

I tried a macro by putting in this sequence after the default DVD macro Rcvr/amp;2;DVD

The problem with that is the DVD macro is invoked recursively.

The correct method that is similar to that is to insert the sequence X_RCVR;2; at the beginning of the existing DVD macro.

The X_RCVR macro puts the remote temporarily in RCVR mode (it stays in RCVR mode until the end of the macro), so the 2 key will be processed in RCVR mode. Then all those other commands set the modes the remote will be in once that temporary setting expires.

You could insert the X_RCVR;2; anywhere in the macro with pretty much the same effect. I'd put it at the beginning just so that the audible result of the macro happens as quickly as possible for the user.

[DieCommie420]

Ok i understand Thx alot

Im gonna go try that right now....

On the same train of thought.... If i were to add X_TV;Video 1; it would switch my TV to video 1 right? Im gonna try that too.

[johnsfine]

Right. Each X_ command lasts until either the next X_ command or the end of the macro. Other device selection commands (T_VCR, etc.) can take effect immediately if the come before an X_ command, or take effect at the X_cancel or the end of the macro if they come while an X_ command is in effect.